Washing machine



Oct. 27, 1953 B. w. CHAPIN 2,656,702

WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYEN TOR BRYAN w EHAPIN ATTURNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UN ED" STATES A EN O CE WASHING MACHINE Bryan W. Chapin, ,Cortland,.N ..Y.

Application December 22,1947, Serial No. 793, 159

12v ,Glaims. 1

This invention relates towashing machines, and more particularly to washing machines in which an oscillating motion is employed, although the inventionmay be employed in other fields where oscillatory motion of a similar nature is desired! In washing machines, particularly those of thevertical axis type, there is usually employed a tub-in which is positioned an agitator adapted to oscillate upon a vertical shaft, or a washcontaining basket to which an oscillating motion. is transmitted;- To supply such motion, gearing has generally been employed utilizing some form of crank and connecting rod, in itself expensive, subject to wear, adding weight and bulkto the machine. The present invention seeks to overcome the necessity for such gearing and its attendant disadvantages.

Anobject of the present invention is to provide an oscillating drive for awashing machine or the like in which. a reversible motor and re-' silient link isemployed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient link connection between an induction motor and an oscillatable driven member such that the resilient link may oscillate the driven.

member, and reversely start the induction motor for each oscillation.

A further object of the invention is'to provide a drive. of the type indicated in a washing machine with a minimum of space requirement.

A stillfurther object ofv the invention is to provide a drive of the type which may readilybe changed-from oscillatory to continuous with comparative simplicity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oscillatory drive which is quiet and capable of .operation through a'wide angle or one or more complete turns, as may be desired, without substantial structural alteration.

The above and other novel features of the invention. will. appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It. is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are employedfor purposes of illustration only, and are notv designed asza. definition of the limits of theinvention, reference being had for. thispurpose to the appended claims.

Inthe drawings, wherein. like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of the invention showing its adaptation to a washing machine;

Figure2 is. atransverse sectiontaken substantially on the line 2-4 of. Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figures is atransversesecti'on taken substantially on the line 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken substantially' on the line 5-5 of'Figure 1; and

Figure 6' is a circuit diagram for the electric motor shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a washing machine tub generally indicated at ill mounted upon abase or frame 12-; The tub is provided with a dished bottom 26, providing a circumferential drain annulus ll, leading to the drain port |'3.' Attached to the-port i3 is a flexible rubber hose I 5, the free end of which may be elevated above the washwater level in the tub, or-lowered to retain or drain the wash water within or from the tub. A suitable cover H for the tub is provided.

The base is composed of spaced top and bottom members I 4 and I6 formed from sheet metal and suitably shaped to provide a motor compartment. The member It has an annular skirt l8, and base shoulder l=9',-the latter receiving an inverted annular channel 20, formed about the marginat edge ofmember I 6. A plurality of resilient composition feet' 22 are arranged in the annular channel 20 and secured therein by screws Zl passing through the shoulder l9 and channel 20 thus securing the members l4 and it together. The top member M and the bottom 26 of the tub 1- are provided with central apertures through which extends a hollow column member 28, upon which arethreaded upper and lower clamp nuts 30 and 32 adapted to secure the tub: bottom 26 to the member N, there being provided suitable gaskets 34. to render the connection water-tight. The lower end of the column is threaded within the upper part 36 of a motor frame which is in turn secured by brackets 38 to the annular side wall or skirt H; of the frame member I4- The motor,.generall'y indicated at 42-, may be of the. single phase induction motor type and have preferably 8, 10', or 12 poles, although any suitable number. may be. chosen as may be desired carrying the} usual. induction motor rotorconstruction 56 with its copper bars 58 and end rings 60 and 62. The rotor is supported upon any suitable thrust bearing as at 59. Also carried by the rotor is a centrifugal fan 65 having a plurality of radial blades 56 sweeping within the motor casing member 35. The casing member 36 is provided with a plurality of peripheral ventilating ports 68 through which air may be discharged and the casing member 46 is provided with centrally disposed air inlet ports it.

lhe casing member 46 is provided at its center with a depending thrust bearing cup 72 in which is positioned a thrust ball 14'. A central support shaft it rests upon the ball 14, and extends upwardly through the hollow rotor sleeve 54 and the hollow column 28, and beyond the top of the hollow column. The upper end of the shaft 16 is keyed to a bridging collar 18, the outer periphery of which has depending therefrom a hollow stem 8!! of a wash-receiving basket 82. The basket is provided with suitable agitator baflles S 1 and a plurality of perforations :86 in the outer wall thereof, and an inwardly extending washretaining flange 88 around the upper peripheral margin of the basket. It will thus be seen that the basket is of the type that may be oscillated within washing fluid contained within the tub l9, and which may be subsequently rotated at a centrifuging speed after emptying the tub it), for

rinsing clothes contained in the basket or for centrifugally extracting rinse or wash water from the clothes.

In order to provide oscillating motion to the laundry-containing basket 82, a resilient spring mechanism connecting the motor rotor with the s basket stem is provided. As shown, the hollow rotor shaft 54 of the motor is connected by an edgewise Wound coil spring 90 arranged within the annular cavity formed by the shaft 16 and the stationary hollow column 28. The opposite ends of the spring are provided with axially bent keying portions 92 and 94, the former being axially slid into a complemental recess 93 in the shoulder 96 of the hollow motor shaft, and the latter being slid into a complemental recess 95 in a collar 98 pinned as at I00 to the shaft 16. The number of convolutions of the spring 90 will vary in accordance with the dimensions of the wash-containing basket 82, and the weight of the rotor, the speed characteristics of the motor, and the amount of washing fluid intended to be used in the apparatus, and other factors, including power consumption.

It will be observed that, with respect to the mechanism thus far described, oscillations build up slowly upon the starting of the induction motor rotor in one direction, and the coil spring 90 will be torsionally stressed and will tend to accelerate the basket 82 through the collar 98, the shaft '56 and the bridging collar 18. Due to the inertia of the basket 82, the motor, after some rotation, will be stalled, although the basket will have been set in motion, and upon the motor becoming stalled, the energy stored in the spring will immediately spin and thus start the motor in the reverse direction. Once the motor has started in the reverse direction, the spring will be relieved, permitting and assisting the rotor to gain speed, whereupon the spring passes the zero stress point and thereafter becomes torsionally twisted oppositely. As the motor continues to rotate through additional turns, the spring transmits torsion to the basket in the reverse direction, and rotation of the basket 82 commences in the opposite direction. Soon thereafter, the motor will again reach a stall, whereupon its motion will be reversed in a manner similar to that previously described. The amplitude of movement initially will be small, and with several succeeding oscillations, will grow to a maximum under which conditions the motor may make many revolutions in each direction between the end or stall points, and the basket may be rotated through a wide angle such as a revolution or a half revolution depending upon the constants selected. The amplitude may be varied by varying the voltage upon the motor, and by thus controlling the power input. Thus, through such an arrangement, the basket is caused to oscillate at a frequency dependent upon the constants employed. The motor automatically acts as the prime mover by providing automatic reversing as a result of the resilient connection between it and the basket, and its inherent characteristic of starting in whichever direction it is caused to initially rotate.

While the foregoing combination is effective by itself to produce oscillating motion when the tub it is filled with washing fluid and the basket filled with a suitable amount of laundry, upon the draining of the tub, the frictional force resulting from turbulence of the wash water in resisting rotation of the basket is substantially eliminated, and thereafter the basket will rotate more freely and, instead of causing the motor to stall in the acceleration thereof, may pick up sufficient rotational speed to cause continued rotation in the same direction despite the tendency of the .rotor to stall. By a proper selection of the number of poles in the motor stator, any desired spinning speed may thus automatically be obtained by the system. For example, with a 12 pole stator and 60 cycle current, a rotation speed approaching 600 R. P. M. may be obtained. a higher rotation speed, such as approaching 990 R. P. M., is desired, the number of poles may be reduced to 8.

In order to initiate operation of the motor either into oscillating or continuous rotation as described above, a circuit connected to the stator windings of the motor is employed in conjunction with a starting circuit, which latter may be of the well-known capacitator type. As shown in Figure 6, a source of 60 cycle alternating current is shown at W2 connected to the stator winding Hit of the motor 22, through a suitable manually operable switch ififi. A starting stator winding 63 connected in series with a capacitator i :0 and a switch H2 is utilized to initiate rotation of the motor in one direction and to start the oscillating action previously described, or the laundry spinning action also described. Upon initial starting of the motor, the switch 1 i2 may be opened, since once the mechanism is set in operation it will either oscillate or spin, depending upon whether there is present a sufficient damping effect upon the basket resulting from the washing fluid within the tub Ii).

While the foregoing arrangement is entirely practical, the apparent desirability for disconnecting the starting winding may be eliminated by the addition of further resilient mechanism to the apparatus so far described, in the form of a resilient torsional anchorage for the basket 82 tending to limit the range of movement through which such basket may oscillate. As shown in the drawings, an anchoring spring H4, in the form of an edgewise Wound spring, is arranged about the shaft 76, the spring being provided with axially extending end keying portions H6 and II -8, the former being keyed in an aperture I20 in an internal flange formed as a part of the column extension member I22, and the latter being keyed in an aperture I24 in a collar I26 freely rotatable upon shaft I6. In order to, at will, key the collar I26 so as to rotate with the shaft I6 or to release the same to be free of the shaft TE, there is provided an axially movable clutch sleeve and pins I28 slidable through the bridge member 18 and into and out of suitable recesses I30 in the collar I26. The pins are carried upon an internal flange I32 of a sleeve I34, the flange being ridable axially up or down upon astub shaft I36 formed as a part of the threaded member securing the bridge member I8 to the upper end of the shaft 16.

The sleeve I34 may be locked in either the position shown in Figure l, or the elevated release position where the pins I28 clear the recesses I30. The manually operable mechanism for effectuating the locking of the sleeve in either of two positions is constituted by a transversely slidable D ring I38 embracing the stub shaft I36, the ring having a radial finger button I40 projecting through the sleeve on one side and a spring guide finger I42 projecting through the sleeve on the other side and upon which is positioned a biasing spring I44. The ring I38 is adapted to be urged by the spring I44 into one or the other of the notches I46 or I48 in the stub extension I36 to thereby hold the sleeve I34 in clutch released or clutch engaged position.

It will be seen that the spring I I4 thus described is anchored at its lower end I I6 to the stationary column 28. Its upper end, being keyed to the collar I26, may in turn be clutched to the basket carrying bridge collar I8 or released therefrom by the clutch pins I28. In the event that upper end I I8 of the spring I I4 is clutched to the basket, as is shown in Figure 1, an additional torsional restriction is placed upon the movement of the basket so that the basket can only rotate, in one direction or the other, a distance proportional to the torque applied, the lower end I I6 of spring I I4 being anchored with reference to the station ary column 23. Thus, while the starting winding of the induction motor may always tend to cause the motor to start in one direction, the spring I I4 described will resist the rotation and stall the motor, in either direction, although the torsional twist imposed upon the spring will be greater in the direction of rotation induced by the starting winding. While the spring II4 thus may be stressed to a higher degree in arresting rotation in one direction, the oscillating action of the basket will be substantially the same as in the case where no spring H4 is employed and Where the starting winding is disconnected after the initial starting impulse.

If it be desired to centrifuge laundry contained within the basket, the spring I I4 is uncoupled, by the shifting of the lock ring I38 and the lifting of the sleeve I34 to the upper position, whereupon the pins I28 are withdrawn from the collar I26, leaving the spring H4 free. Under such circumstances, the apparatus will operate initially as previously described, the starting winding effecting rotation of the motor in one direction and causing the basket to rotate in the same direction. While there may be some relative oscillatory effect between the basket and rotor by reason of the spring 9'6, the combination will progress in one direction and subsequently gather speed for centrifuging. This operation takes place when the wash water has'been eliminated from the tub since 6 the presence of wash water tends to sufliciently dampen the movement of the basket to restrict the system to oscillatory movement.

It will thus be seen that, in some instances, even though the starting winding be employed continuously and the effect of the spring I'I4 be eliminated, oscillating action of the basket may be had if the tubis filled with wash water the turbulence of whichcauses substantial damping effect. The oscillating action, however, is step-like; that is, the rotation in one direction is considerably greater than the rotation in the other direction, so that the basket is caused in effect to rotate or advance step by step at a slow speed while oscillating simultaneously. However, in order to assure oscillating motion when desired, and centrifuging continuous spinning operation upon draining the tub, it is preferable to employ the centering spring II4,- with the releasable clutch for spinning.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the drive and transmission nests itself in a relatively shallow base compartment, and the hollow central column of the washing machine, resulting in a compact eflicient organization. Additionally, the construction is such as to provide the necessary change from oscillatory to spinning drive for extracting purposes with a relatively simple mechanism. While the apparatus has been shown as peculiarly adapted to a washing machine drive, as illustrated, it will be appreciated that the system may be utilized wherever oscillatory movement or continuous rotation is desirable.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an oscillating electro-mechanical drive, a base, an, electric non-self-starting motor having an armature adapted to rotate in either direction upon imparting initial rotation thereto, said. motor being secured to said base, a resilient torsional means having opposite ends connected to said armature and said base respectively, said torsional means being of a resiliency and having an energy storage capacity such as to permit said armature to gain speed and torque independent of any starting mechanism upon imparting initial starting rotation thereto, whereby said armature rotates to a stall and is thereafter reversely rotated by the stored energy of said torsional means to store energy in said torsional means in a reverse direction before reaching a stall and repeats such operation cyclically, and oscillatable mechanism coupled to said means intermediate its ends with a substantial portion of said means lying between said armature and said mechanism, and oscillated by the repeated oscillation cycles of said armature.

2. In an oscillating electro-mechanical drive, a base, an electric non-self-starting motor having an armature adapted to rotate in either direction upon imparting initial rotation thereto, said motor being secured to said base, a resilient torsional means having opposite ends connected to said armature and said base respectively, said torsional means being of a resiliency and having an energy storage capacity such as to permit said annature to gain speed and torque independent of any starting mechanism upon imparting initial starting rotation thereto, whereby said armature rotates to a stall and is thereafter reversely rotated by the stored energy of said torsional means to store energy in said torsional means in a reverse direction before reaching a stall and repeats such operation cyclically, oscillatable load mechanism coupled tosaid means intermediate its ends with a substantial portion of said means lying between said armature and said mechanism, and oscillated by the repeated oscillation cycles of said armature, and means for at will connecting or disconnecting at least the portion of said torsional means between said armature and load mechanism from said base.

3. In an oscillating electro-mechamcal drive, a base, an induction motor secured to said base, an armature in said motor, a resilient torsional means connected at one end to said armature, oscillatable mechanism having substantial inertia coupled to said means at a point spaced from said end, said torsional means between said end and said point being of a resiliency and having an energy storage capacity and the inertia of said oscillatable mechanism being sufficiently great with respect to said armature such as to permit said armature to gain speed and torque independent of any starting mechanism upon imparting initial starting rotation thereto, whereby said armature rotates to a speed greatly in excess of said mechanism and thereafter is reduced to a stalling speed sumciently low that the torque in said torsional means is sufilcient to stop and reversely rotate the armature by the stored energy of said torsional means and thereafter permit said armature to start and gain speed in a reverse direction to store energy in said torsional means in a reverse direction before again reaching a stall, and whereupon such operation is repeated cyclically.

4. In a washing machine, a washing fluid containing stationary tub, a reversible motor carried by said tub having an armature, a wash containing basket revolvably supported within said tub, a torsion spring connected at its opposite ends to said armature and basket, respectively, resilient means for limiting rotation of said basket in either direction, and means for rendering said last named means inefiective to limit the rotation of said basket.

5. In a washing machine, a washing fluid con taining stationary tub, a reversible motor carried by said tub having an armature, a wash agitating member revolvably supported within said tub, a torsion spring connected at its opposite ends to said armature and member, respectively, resilient means for limiting rotation of said memher in either direction, and means for rendering said last named means inefiective to limit the rotation of said member.

6. In a washing machine, a base, a wash water containing tub, a hollow upstanding central column secured to said base and extending into said tub, an induction motor in said base, having a hollow armature, a capacitor starting winding for said motor, a thrust rod extending upwardly through said armature and column, a. wash agitating element having a hollow central stem arranged about said column and supported from and keyed to said rod, a thrust bearing between said rod and base, and a torsion spring arranged about said rod and within said column, said torsion spring being connected at its opposite ends to said armature and rod respectively, and resilient means anchored at one end to the. column and base and connected to said element at the other.

'7, In a washing machine, a base, a hollow upstanding central column secured to said base, an induction motor in said base adapted to rotate in either direction upon imparting rotation thereto in either direction, having a hollow armature, a thrust rod extending upward through said armature and column, an annular washing tub having a hollow central stem arranged about said column and supported from and keyed to said rod, means for draining said tub, a thrust bearing between said rod and base, and a torsion spring arranged about said rod and within said column, said torsion spring being connected at its opposite ends to said armature and rod respectively.

8. In a washing machine, a base, a hollow upstanding central column secured to said base, a reversible motor in said base having a hollow armature, a thrust rod extending upward through said armature and column, an annular washing tub having a hollow central stern arranged about said column and supported from and keyed to said rod, a thrust bearing between said rod and base, a torsion spring arranged about said rod and within said column, said torsion spring being connected at its opposite ends to said armature and rod respectively, a second torsion spring arranged about said rod and having an end connected to said column, and means for detachably connecting and disconnecting the other end of said second spring into driving relation with said rod.

9. In a washing machine, a base, a Wash water containing tub, a hollow upstanding central column secured to said base and extending into said tub, areversible motor in said base having a hollow armature, a thrust rod extending upward through said armature and column, an annular wash agitating element having a hollow central stem arranged about said column and supported from and keyed to said rod, a thrust bearing between said rod and base, a torsion spring arranged about said rod and within said column, said torsion spring being connected at its opposite ends to said armature and rod respectively, a second torsion spring arranged about said rod and having an end connected to said column, and means for detachably connecting and disconnecting the other end of said second spring into driving relation with said rod.

10. In a washing machine, a base, a hollow upstanding central column secured to said base, an induction motor in said base having a hollow armature, means for initially starting said motor in one direction, a thrust rod extending upward and through said armature and column, an annular washing tub having a hollow central stern arranged about said column and supported from and keyed to said rod, a thrust bearing between said rod and base, a torsion spring arranged about said rod and within said column, said torsion spring being connected at its opposite ends to said armature and rod respectively, a second torsion spring arranged about said rod and having an end connected to said column, and means for detachably connecting and disconnecting the other nd of said second spring into driving relation with said rod.

11. In a washing machine, a base, a wash water containing tub, a hollow upstanding central column secured to said base and extending into said tub, an induction motor in said base having a hollow armature, means for initially starting said motor in either direction, a thrust rod extending upward and through said armature and column, an annular washing containing receptacle having a hollow central stem arranged about said column and supported from and keyed to said rod, a thrust bearing between said rod and base, a torsion spring arranged about said rod and within said column, said torsion spring being connected at its opposite ends to said armature and rod respectively, a second torsion spring arranged about said rod and having an end connected to said column, and means for detachably connecting and disconnecting the other end of said second spring into driving relation with said rod.

12. In a machine of the character described for producing oscillatory or rotary motion, in combinatlon, an electric non-self-starting reversible motor of the single phase induction motor type, said motor having a fram including a stator, and a rotor journaled therein, said rotor being adapted to rotate in either direction upon imparting initial rotation in either direction, an oscillatable work element having inertia at least in the order of or greater than the inertia of the rotor, means having fixed relation to said frame for journaling said element for oscillation or rotation about an axis, resilient axially extending means, being of substantial axial length, and having only its opposite axially spaced ends connected in driving relation to said rotor and element, respectively, and means for rigidly securing the opposite ends of said resilient means to said rotor and element, respectively, said rotor and said element being free for unlimited rotation in either direction except as constrained by the resilient connecting means, and said rotor and said element moving in opposition substantially at all times during oscillation, whereby a substantially stationary nodal point of said resilient means is established intermediate the ends thereof, said nodal point dividing said resilient means into lengths substantially inversely proportional to the respective inertias of the rotor and load element secured to the ends of such lengths, said element, resilient means and rotor being adapted to rotate continuously together upon application of a starting rotational force to one of the element or rotor suflicient to bias rotation of the rotor in one direction to establish stepwise followed by continuous rotation in said one direction.

BRYAN W. CHAPIN.

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